UK: Lockdown 2 Portraits | anniebungeroth

Unfamiliar Distance

Life in lockdown 2

no more than a mile from home

Goldsithney . St Hilary . Rosudgeon

It has definitely been different for me during lockdown 2 but with the same feelings of uncertainty.

I gave birth to a baby girl in August, luckily having my husband by my side during the birth but covid restrictions stopped him from visiting before and after. I found it tough recovering from labour and attending to my new baby’s needs on my own. I couldn’t wait to get home.

With my two older children very excitedly attending school again, I found myself thinking a lot more about what the future may hold for us all. Especially by a comment which was made by one of my health visitors during her visit, which really stuck in my head, ‘It is scary what we are bringing our children into.’ But I have faith we will all come together again, where I am able to let my daughter experience baby play groups to socialise and be able to pass the baby to someone else, rather than the people in my bubble.

We can find the good in every dark place.

Louise & Hali

Tom - How I loved it when we were all at home more! Now it’s colder, rainier and less fun. I get to go to work with Mummy sometimes which does at least mean some different walks while we are out and about. I’m looking forward to Summer again now- maybe even another full lockdown!

Chris - The second lockdown hasn’t really been a lockdown at all for me as I have been back full time teaching in schools. It is different with masks, distancing and various other ‘rules’ supposedly in place but young people bring a lot of joy especially as they can talk about things other than Covid-19! I’m happy to be with colleagues too. Making music face to face with everyone again is wonderful and with a bit of imagination lots more has been possible than I first thought - even plenty of singing. Music feels more important than ever now and I certainly won’t take it for granted anymore.

Joni Mitchell's words from 'Big Yellow Taxi' come to me -

"Don't it always seem to go ... that you don't know what you got 'til it's gone...."

I never enjoyed shopping until Covid-19 turned it into a potentially hazardous necessity, but this pandemic seems to have brought out both the best and worst in us whilst undertaking everyday tasks. I miss physical contact with family and friends 350 miles away under Tier 3, not that it was a regular occurrence, but the opportunity being denied by current circumstances is both saddening, frustrating and yet a necessity.

Gazing at my ageing face whilst shaving every morning, ever more conscious of the lottery of life, I can look back and feel immensely grateful that the disruption wrought worldwide by Covid-19 triggered a series of minor events and big decisions that lead to me happily living here with someone dear from my past in this little corner of Cornwall.

It is with enormous thanks that it is not only the courage, care and support given by my partner Colleen, but her friends, neighbours and family that have made this stranger welcome. I had always thought I would be enjoying my later life in Anglesey, off North Wales, but this western country reminds me so strongly of the similar landscapes, the wild cliffs and seas, the weatherbeaten land - the people also, strong, forthright, kindly and proud.

Covid-19 has changed my future, our future, luckily for the better, unlike many, so I am happy to count my blessings James

It almost shames me to say, but for this dreadful virus I would not be in this happy and joyous situation that I now find myself in – with James who, after 54 years, is back in my life. We look after ourselves, care for each other and hopefully, when this disease is eradicated, we can enjoy our beautiful countryside, grow old(er) together and once more spend time with family and good friends.

Colleen

Colleen, James & Pip

I'm bored with it now

Martin

Fundraising for the Flicka Donkey Sanctuary during the 1st Lockdown just had to continue. The Sanctuary had to remain closed to the public and their little gift shop and Tea Room which brought in vital funds had to close too. The Sanctuary depended on donations. There was no help from the Government.

To give up was not an option. Coffee mornings and Boot sales were out of the question

so selling plants outside my house in the summer was very successful.

However 2nd Lockdown was not so easy so I had to come up with another idea. I decided to make face masks to sell and sold them locally online. Often working into the night. This gave me something to focus on and also raised much needed funds to care for the 100 Donkeys at the Sanctuary.

Nell

For me lockdownV2 has been a tad more difficult than the first one,mainly, I think, because of the shorter days and of course the wet weather.

Doug’s work has continued without disruption but my work in the studio has been really affected because of the light and so it has been a case of a couple of hours here and a couple of hours there.

Happily though my second love is cooking and so it has given me the opportunity to spend more time in the kitchen.

We are looking forward to having friends and family around and with a vaccine on the horizon, hopefully by next Christmas we’ll all be able to celebrate properly.

Until then it’s going to be a case of doing the right thing and keeping everyone safe

Mary

The second lockdown was nothing like the first for me. I still went to school and most of the school clubs were still running. I missed the sports like tennis and swimming that keep me fit. I played a lot more guitar at home especially with my brother. I felt more relaxed because life was a bit less hectic with less things to do.

Harry

Like so many others we at Goldsithney Post Office have worked throughout the pandemic crisis. How we now work day to day and deal with the ever changing restrictions has kept us on our toes. Sometimes exhausting, sometimes frustrating but always challenging. Whatever the future may hold hopefully Mary and I will continue to provide Post Office services with our usual sense of humour

Shann, Goldsithney Post Office

Once we got used to the eerie silence of lockdown(s) inside a normally vibrant public house, we set about keeping ourselves busy with a huge list of minor renovation jobs inside and out. For example we sanded down almost every wooden surface and then rebuilt with several layers of varnish. The two bars in the pub were installed in 1976, and by the looks of the surface wear and tear we assume they haven't been restored since then. Hopefully the work we have done will keep the pub feeling welcoming for many years to come.

We did worry for some of our single customers for whom the pub is a social lifeline, but we were happy in July when we were allowed to (safely) interact again, and look forward to the end of the current (second) lockdown. We find it strange to say this, but on a personal level (finances-aside) we enjoyed the lockdown(s); a real break from the normal busy lifestyle inside a public house.

Damien & Teresa, The Trevelyan Arms Goldsithney

Elaine, the veg stall

In the first lockdown, churches were closed completely, but this time the clergy have been permitted to enter the buildings and pray privately. It has been a great comfort but also a very solitary experience. I have tried to pray for as many people as I can by name, but have also remembered all those in our local communities who are lonely, isolated, anxious or frightened. My prayers have often been focused on those suffering with coronavirus and those who have lost loved ones to it, especially if I have been taking the funeral of someone who has died from COVID-19. All funerals are emotionally challenging, but I have found taking those of people who have died from the virus especially powerful and moving.

The prospect of a vaccine becoming available fills me with hope and encourages me to look forward to a time when we can all be reunited face-to-face as members of our community. I am determined that we will have a wonderful thanksgiving service in church once our lives return to some kind of normality - followed by the most enormous feast!

Father Jeff, Rural Dean of Penwith,

Team Vicar in the Mount’s Bay United Benefice

Physically working on the dolls cottage has been a complete change from all the Virtual meetings I have had during lock down. It’s been good to get away from an IT screen between those meetings and to plan and physically put the project together from scratch.

Sue